Transduction of Fas gene or Bcl-2 antisense RNA sensitizes cultured drug resistant gastric cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs

AIM: To compare the expression level of Fas gene and Bcl-2 gene in gastric cancer cells SGC7901 and gastric cancer multidrug resistant cells (MDR) SGC7901/VCR, to transduce Fas cDNA and Bcl-2 antisense nucleic acid into SGC7901/VCR cells respectively, and to observe the expression of two genes in transfectants and non-transfectants as well as their drug sensitivity.

METHODS: Eukaryotic expression vector pBK-Fas cDNA and pDOR-anti Bcl-2 were constructed and transfected into SGC7901/VCR cells by lipofectamine,respectively. Northern blot and Western blot were used to detect the expression of mRNA and protein in SGC7901/VCR and SGC7901 cells and transfectants, and drug sensitivity of transfectants for VCR, CDDP and 5-FU was analyzed with MTT assay.

RESULTS: After gene transfection, 80 for Fas and 120 for antisense Bcl-2 drug-resistant clones were selected from 2 × 10⁵ cells, transfection rate being 0.04% and 0.06%. Two clones of SGC7901 Fas/VCR cells and SGC7901 anti Bcl-2/VCR cells were randomly selected for further incubation. Hybridization results showed that the expression level of Fas mRNA and protein in SGC7901/VCR cells was much lower, but that of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein was higher than that in SGC7901 cells. The expression of Fas mRNA and protein in SGC7901 Fas/VCR cells was higher, and of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein was lower in SGC7901 anti Bcl-2/VCR cells than that in non-transfectants. MTT assay showed that transfectants were more sensitive to VCR, CDDP, 5-FU than non-transfectants.

CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 gene displayed high expression while Fas gene had low expression in drug resistant gastric cancer cells. Expression of Bcl-2 protein was effectively blocked in SGC7901 anti Bcl-2/VCR cells by gene transfection. In contrast, the expression of Fas mRNA and protein in SGC7901 Fas/VCR cells increased. Fas gene and Bcl-2 antisense nucleic acid transfection sensitized drug resistant gastric cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. These results suggest cell apoptosis plays an important role in the mechanism of MDR, and enhancing apoptosis might reverse MDR.

Clinical and experimental study of effect of Raondix Salviae Militiorrhiza and other blood-activating and stasis-eliminating Chinese herbs on hemodynamics of portal hypertension

AIM: To study the effects of Radix Salviae Militiorrhiza (RSM), other blood-activating and stasis-eliminating Chinese herbs on hemodynamics of portal hypertension.

METHODS: Portal pressure of cirrhotic dogs after chronic common bile duct ligation was measured directly; portal blood flow in patients with liver cirrhosis were detected by ultrasound Doppler.

RESULTS: After administration of RSM and Radix Angelicae Sinensis (RAS) by intravenous infusion in cirrhosis dogs, the portal venous pressure (Ppv), wedge hepatic venous pressure (WHVP), hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), were significantly decreased (P < 0.05-0.01), but the mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the heart rate (HR) remained unchanged. When nifedipine was used, Ppv, WHVP, MAP and HR were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the MVPG unchanged (P < 0.05). After administration of RSM, RSM + nifedipine and RSM + Hirudin + Nifedpin for 10-12 weeks, the diameter of portal vein (Dpv), spleen vein (Dsv), the portal venous flow (Qpv) and splenic venous flow (Qsv) in patients with hepatic cirrhosis were significantly lowered (P < 0.05-0.01), and the effect of RAS was weaker.

CONCLUSION: The efficacy of decreasing Ppv by Chinese herbs－RSM, RAS, etc. as compared with nifedipine, demonstrated that the Chinese herbs were slower in action than that of nifedipine, but more long-lasting and without side effects. Hence, long-term administration of Chinese herbs, would be more beneficial.

Liver metastasis models of human colorectal carcinoma established in nude mice by orthotopic transplantation and their biologic characteristic

AIM: To establish a liver metastasis model of human colorectal carcinoma in nude mice. METHODS: Orthotopic transplantation of histologically intact colorectal tissues from patients into colorectal mucosa of nude mice. Tumorgenicity, invasion, metastasis and morphological characteristics of the transplanted tumors were studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Liver metastasis models of human colon carcinoma (HCA-HMN-1) and human rectal carcinoma (HRA-HMN-2) were established after sceening from 34 colorectal carcinomas.They had been passaged in vivo for 18 and 21 generations respectively. There were lymphatic, hemotogenous and implanting metastasesis. CEA secretion was maintained after transplantation. The primary and liver metastatic tumors were similar to the original human carcinoma in histopathological and ultrastructural features, DNA content and chromosomal karyotype.

CONCLUSION: The liver metastasis models provide useful tools for the study of mechanism of metastasis and its treatment of human colorectal cancer.

Relationship between expression of CD44v6 and nm23-H1 and tumor invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To detect the expression of CD44v6 mRNA and nm23-H1 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by in situ hybridization, and to evaluate the relationship between their expression and also relationship between their expressions and tumor invasion and metastasis.

METHODS: CD44v6 cDNA probe was synthesized with PCR technique and the nm23-H1 cRNA probe by in vitro transcription. The expression of CD44v6 mRNA and nm23-H1 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS: In group with high invasion and metastasis potential, the positive rates of CD44v6 mRNA and nm23-H1 mRNA were 80% (8/10) and 40% (4/10),in group with poor invasion and metastasis potential, they were 21.7% (5/23) and 91.3% (21/23). There was a positive correlation between the expression of CD44v6 mRNA and tumor invasion and metastasis potential in HCC (P < 0.01), and a reverse correlation between the expression of nm23-H1 mRNA and tumor invasion and metastasis potential (P < 0.01) and a reverse correlation in the expression between CD44v6 mRNA and nm23-H1 mRNA in HCC (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Detection of CD44v6 mRNA and nm23-H1 mRNA may be useful for tumor invasion and metastasis in HCC.

Modulation of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus on gastric motility in rats

AIM: To investigate whether the arcuate nucleus (ARC) could modulate gastric motility, and if so, what are the mechanisms or pathways.

METHODS: Wistar rats, anaesthetized with urethan, parameters of stimulation and electrolytic lesion sites were determined according to the Paxinos and Watson “ATLAS of rat brain in steriotaxic coordinate”. Intragastric pressure ( IGP ) and gastric motility were measured by Reybould¡äs method.

RESULTS: Electrical stimulation of ARC could obviously decrease the IGP by 42.2% ± 5.4%, n = 15, P < 0.01, and the phasic gastric contractions disappeared. The analysis showed that the locus coeruleus (LC) and dorsal raphe (DR) nuclei may be involved in central, but without the invovement of β-endorphinergic neurons rich in the ARC, while in periphery, the peripheral neural pathways are both vagus and sympathetic nerves. The fibers in vagus may be non-cholinergic. Humoral factors may also be involved. At the receptor level, Tonic action of adrenergic nerve in the stomach is mainly inhibitory; β-receptors, which may be present on the stomach wall and mediate inhibition; and α-receptors, which come into play through vagus, mediate inhibition, but those present on the smooth muscle mediate sympathetic excitation. Microinjection of TRH into ARC could significantly increase the IGP by 183.02% (0.53 kPa ± 0.08 kPa vs 1.5 kPa ± 0.6 kPa, n = 10, P < 0.001), the rate and amplitude of phasic gastric contraction were also increased (3 cpm vs 6 cpm-8 cpm). The peripheral pathway of such excitatory effects were transmitted with cholinergic vagus nerve mediated by M-receptor.

CONCLUSION: ARC could modulate gastric motility biphasically, inhibitory and excitatory, depending on the nature of stimuli.

Basaloid squamous carcinoma of esophagus: a clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study of sixteen cases

AIM: To further clarify the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic features, and prognostic aspect of basaloid squamous carcinoma (BSC), a rare esophageal carcinoma.

METHODS: We reviewed 763 documented cases of esophageal malignancies (1977-1996) from our hospital, and discovered 16 (2.1%) cases of BSC. The clinicopathological features of these cases were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry (S-P method), histochemical stains, and electron microscopy were used to further characterize the neoplasm.

RESULTS: The tumors were classified into stages I (n = 1), IIA (n = 6), IIB (n = 2), III (n = 5), and IV (n = 2) according to the criteria of the UICC TNM classification system of malignant tumors (1987). Most neoplasms were located in the mid third of the esophagus. Grossly, they had a similar appearance of conventional esophageal carcinoma, but showed a typical cytoarchitectural pattern of BSC histologically. The most important histologic feature of this tumor is carcinoma with a basaloid pattern, intimately associated with squamous cell carcinoma, dysplasia, or focal squamous differentiation. The basaloid cells were round to oval in shape with scant cytoplasm, arranged mainly in the form of solid, smooth-contoured lobules with peripheral palisading. A panel of immunostains were used for the basaloid component of the tumor with the following results: CK (Pan) 14/16 (+); EMA 16/16 (+); Vimentin 4/16 (+); S-100 protein 7/16 (+). CEA and smooth muscle actin were negative. Electron microscopy (EM) revealed that the basaloid cells were poorly differentiated, with a few desmosomes and fibrils, and numerous free and polyribosome. Of the 11 patients with adequate follow-up 8 died within 2 years, with an average survival time of 16.2 months. No stage II, III or IV cases survived beyond 5 years. The one-year survival rate was 60% and two-year 20%.

CONCLUSION: The BSC of esophagus is a distinct clinicopathological entity with poor prognosis. The cellular differentiation and biologic behavior of esophageal BSC were assumed to occupy a station intermediate between that of conventional squamous cell carcinoma and small undifferentiated cell carcinoma.

Interaction between cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and vincristine on human hepatoma cell line (7721)

AIM: To evaluate the killing effects of CDDP, 5-Fu and VCR on human hepaoma cell line (7721).

METHODS: The median-effect principle was used.

RESULTS: Killing effects of the individual drug were enhanced as the median concentration increased. Antagonism was produced when two drugs were used at a higher concentration (CI > 1), and synergism was achiened when CI < 1. Finally, the effect was influenced by both the ratios of drug concentration and the sequence of administration.

CONCLUSION: The drug administration order and drug concentrations are significant factors that need to be considered in clinical practice.

Expression and significance of HBV genes and their antigens in human primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To explore the etiology and pathogenesis of human primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the expression of HBV genes and HBV-antigens was detected in the cancerous tissue and its surrounding hepatic tissues.

METHODS: HBV-antigens were detected by immunohistochemical technique and HBV genes were examined with in situ hybridization.

RESULTS: In 20 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, the positive detection rate of HBxAg, pre-S1, pre-S2, HBsAg and HBcAg was 75%, 40%, 40%, 10% and 0%, respectively, and in the surrounding hepatic tissues of 19 cases the positive rates were 84.2%, 47.9%, 47.9%, 31.6% and 31.6%. Among 40 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, the positive rate of HBVDNA, x-gene, pre-s gene, s gene and s gene fell on 77.5%, 70.0%, 47.5%, 40% and 42.5%, respectively, and of the surrounding hepatic tissues in 33 cases, 87.9%, 84.8%, 63.6%, 69.7% and 66.7%.

CONCLUSION: The development of human primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma bears a close relationship with chronic persistent HBV infection. Particularly, the x gene of HBV and its protein (HBxAg) might play an important role in pathogenesis of hepatic carcinoma.

Gene therapy for human colorectal carcinoma using human CEA promoter controled bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxin genes: PEA and DTA gene transfer

AIM: To establish a tissue-specific gene therapy for colorectal carcinoma using bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxin genes.

METHODS: Pseudomonas exotoxin A domain II +III (PEA) was cloned from genomic DNA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PEA and diphtheria toxin A chain gene (DTA) were modified to express eukaryotically. After sequencing, the toxin genes under the control of human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) promoter were cloned into retroviral vectors to construct CEAPEA and CEADTA respectively. In vitro cotransfection of the constructs with luciferase vectors and in vivo gene transfer in nude mice were subsequently carried out.

RESULTS: Both CEAPEA and CEADTA specifically inhibited the reporter gene expression in the CEA positive human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells in vitro. Direct injection of CEAPEA and CEADTA constructs into the established human tumors in BALB/c nude mice led to significant and selective reductions in CRC tumor size as compared with that in control groups.

CONCLUSION: The toxin genes, working as therapeutic genes, are suitable for the tissue-specific gene therapy for colorectal carcinoma.

Traditional Chinese medicine "Qing Yi Tang" alleviates oxygen free radical injury in acute necrotizing pancreatits

AIM: To observe the changes in oxygen free radical (OFR) and the curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine “Qing Yi Tang” in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).

METHODS: After induction of ANP by injection of sodium taurocholate into pancreatic duct, 16 dogs were randomly divided into control group and Chinese medicine group. Serum amylase, SOD and MDA were determined on postoperative day 1, 2, 4 and 7. The animals were sacrificed on day 7. SOD and MDA in organs were determined, and pathological changes in pancreas were observed.

RESULTS: As compared with control group, the serum level of amylase (734 U/L vs 2783 U/L) and MDA (7.8 nmol/mL vs 14.8 nmol/mL) in Chinese medicine group were decreased on day 7 (P < 0.05), while SOD increased significantly (281 nU/mL vs 55 nU/mL, P < 0.01), and similar changes occurred in MDA and SOD in organs, especially in the pancreas; the pathological changes in the pancreas were alleviated as well.

CONCLUSION: “Qing Yi Tang” is effective in clearing OFRs and alleviating pathological changes in ANP.

Orientated thermotherapy of ferromagnetic thermoseed in hepatic tumors

AIM: To study the thermotherapeutic effects of implanted ferromagnetic thermoseeds in high frequency electromagnetic field in hepatic tumors.

METHODS: The ferromagnetic thermoseeds made of nickel-copper alloy, which has a lower Curie temperature, were implanted into hepatic tumors of mice. The high frequency electromagnetic field was then applied in vitro to make the ferromagnetic thermoseeds produce the hyperthermia. Before and after thermotherapy, the tumor size, pathologic alteration and animal survival period were assessed.

RESULTS: The temperature at the central area of the tumor could be heated up to 50 °C. Most of tumors in mice disappeared with a large amount of tumor necrosis. The survival period of mice was prolonged.

CONCLUSION: This thermotherapy is beneficial to directional selection and temperature control for treatment of hepatic tumors.

Reversing effect of Tanshinone on malignant phenotypes of human hepatocarcinoma cell line

AIM: To study the reversing effect of Chinese drug tanshinone on malignant phenotype of cancer cells.

METHODS: Human hepatocarcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721) was treated in vitro with 0.5 mg/L tanshinone for 4 days, and variation in cell differentiation wasdetected.

RESULTS: The morphology of cancer cells was tended toward well differentiation and cell growth was markedly inhibited. BrdU uptake assay and immunohistochemical stain of PCNA showed that the BrdU labeling rate and PCNA positive rate were lower than the controls, but no difference was found statistically as compared with all transretinoic acid. Flow cytometric assay demonstrated that S phase cells decreased and G0/G1 phase cells increased. Expression of c-myc oncogene protein decreased but the c-fos oncogene protein markedly increased.

CONCLUSION: Tanshinone could reverse the inducing differentiation in human hepatocarcinoma cells (SMMC-7721). It may become a new prospective inducer of cell differentiation to treat cancers.

Role and pitfalls of hepatic helical multi-phase CT scanning in differential diagnosis of small hemangioma and small hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To compare and analyze the contrast enhancement appearance of small hemangioma (SHHE) and small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) with helical multi-phase CT scanning so as to determine their roles and pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of SHHE and SHCC.

METHODS: The pre and postcontrast CT scanning of the liver in 73 cases (38 SHHE, 35 SHCC) were carried out. The first phase scan of the entire liver began at 30s after the injection of contrast medium, the second and third phases began at 70s, and 4 min respectively. The contrast enhancement patterns and characteristics of all lesions were observed and compared.

RESULTS: In SHHE, 64.29% (27/42) had typical manifestations in two-phase dynamic scanning, such as peripheral dramatic high-density enhancement of the lesions with progressive opacification from the periphery toward the center, 30.95% (13/42) were hyperdense in both phases and 4.76% (2/42) were hypodense in both phases. In the third phase scanning, 96.67% (28/30) of SHHE were hyperdense and isodense. In SHCC 59.52% (25/42) presented typical appearances, such as hyperdense in the first phase and hypodense in the second phase, 23.81% (10/42) were hyperdense in the first phase and isodense in the second phase with 4.76% (2/42) of hypodense in both phases. In the third phase scanning, 85.71% (24/28) of SHCC were hypodense.

CONCLUSION: According to the contrast enhancement patterns of SHHE and SHCC in the two-phase or multi-phase scanning by helical CT, diagnosis can be established in the majority of lesions, while some atypical cases needed MRI for further investigation.

Copper-chelating therapeutic effect in Wilson disease with different clinical phenotypes and polymorphisms of ATP7B gene

AIM: To investigate the copper-chelating therapeutic effect in Wilson disease (WD) with different clinical phenotypes and polymorphisms of ATP7B gene.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two WD patients with different clinicalphenotypes were given DMPS intravenously and Gandou copper-chelating tablet orally for one month. The therapeutic effect was judged by modified Goldstein mothod. Exon 18 of ATP7B gene extracted from the DNA of patients and 20 healthy volunteers was amplified with PCR mutation and polymorphism were screened with SSCP technique.

RESULTS: Four kinds of abnormal migration bands in PCR-SSCP were observed in 37 WD patients, mutation frequencies of three different disease phenotypes, and curative effect between mutation group and non-mutation group showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05), but the total effectiveness rates in patients with Wilson type or pseudosclerosis type were significantly higher than those of patients with hepatic type ( χ² = 6.17, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Most WD patients are compound heterozygotes, the patients with different clinical phenotypes have different response to copper-chelating therapy. Specific mutation, at least in part, plays a role in influencing the disease phenotypes and therapeutic effect.

Anal cancer in Chinese: human papillomavirus infection and altered expression of p53

AIM: To detect the presence of HPV DNA and study the alteration of p53 expression in anal cancers in Chinese.

METHODS: HPV DNA was amplified by PCR. The amplified HPV DNA was classified by DBH. HPV antigen and p53 expression were respectively detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: HPV DNA was amplified only in one case of squamous cell carcinoma of the 72 Chinese anal cancers and further classified as HPV type 16. Others were all HPV negative. HPV antigen and p53 expression were also detected in this case. Positive stainings with anti-p53 antibody were seen in 61.2% anal cancers. There were no statistically significant differences between anal squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas and between anal adenocarcinomas and rectal adenocarcinomas. p53 protein expression was observed in the basal cells of squamous epithelium of condyloma acuminatum and morphologically normal squamous epithelium in 2 cases invaded by anal adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSION: HPV infection was not associated with these cases of anal cancer. p53 alteration was a common event. Positive p53 immunostaining can not be regarded as a marker for differentiating benign from malignant lesions.

Apoptosis and its relationship with cell proliferation, p53, Waf1p21, bcl-2 and c-myc in esophageal carcinogenesis studied with a high-risk population in northern China

AIM: To determine the extent of apoptosis and its possible relationship with the changes of p53, Waflp21, bcl-2, and c-myc at different stages of esophageal carcinogenesis.

METHODS: Two hundred and forty-one esophageal biopsy samples from symptom-free subjects and 38 surgically resected esophageal carcinoma tissues from a high-risk population for esophageal cancer in Henan, China were used in this study. Apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies were identified by well-established morphological criteria. The extent of apoptosis and its possible relationship with the rate of cell proliferation (PCNA) and changes of p53, Waf1p21, bcl-2, and c-myc were analyzed in samples with esophageal precancerous and cancerous lesions.

RESULTS: The apoptotic cells, identified morphologically, were located in the same proliferative compartment of hyperproliferative cell population in the esophageal epithelia as the cells immunostaining-positive for p53, bcl-2, c-myc and PCNA.The apoptotic indices (total number of apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies per mm² of the tissue section) were low in the normal epithelia, and increased significantly as the lesions progressed from BCH to DYS and to SCC. The extent of apoptosis correlated well with the cell proliferation indices based on PCNA. The total number of positive cells for p53 stain was much higher than that of apoptotic cells. No difference in apoptotic indices was found between p53-positive and p53-negative samples. Waf1p21-positive cells resided in cell layers were higher in number than p53 and PCNA-positive cells. The number of immunostaining positive cells for Waflp21 increased slightly from normal to BCH, but decreased in DYS and SCC. Positive staining samples for bcl-2 and c-myc increased as the lesions progressed from BCH to DYS and to SCC. No apparent correlation between apoptosis and Waf1p21, bcl-2 or c-myc expression was observed.

CONCLUSION: The extent of apoptosis was low in normal esophageal epithelium and increased as the lesions progressed. The apoptotic cells were located in the same hyperproliferative cell compartment as cells immunostaining-positive for p53, bcl-2, c-myc and PCNA, but no apparent correlation between apoptosis and these parameters was observed, possibly due to the complexities of molecular changes in esophageal carcinogenesis.

Changes of lipid metabolism in plasma, liver and bile during cholesterol gallstone formation in rabbit model

AIM: To find out the relationship between the disturbances of lipid metabolism and the formation of cholesterol gallstones by studying the changes of lipid metabolism in plasma, liver tissue and the bile.

METHODS: Male and female white Japanese rabbits were divided randomly into a control group (Con) and four experimental groups of 10 rabbits each fed with a diet containing 1.2% cholesterol for one, two, three and four weeks (1 wk, 2 wk, 3 wk and 4 wk group). The measurement of plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and its subfractions (HDL2-C, HDL3-C), very low and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C, LDL-C) was taken with standard enzymatic techniques. Apolipoprotein (apo) concentrations in plasma were measured by radial immunodiffusion assay for apoA1, apoB100, aopC¢ò and apoC II. Total cholesterol of liver was measured by the enzymatic procedure for each animal. Bile acids, mainly glycocholate (GCA) and glycodeoxycholate (GDCA) were detected by dual wavelength thin layer scanner.

RESULTS: In all the experimental groups fed with dietary cholesterol, cholesterol crystal was found in the gallbladder in 2/10 cases of the 1 wk group, 4/10 of the 2 wk group,6/10 of the 3 wk group and 7/10 of the 4 wk group respectively. The concentration of plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (pl), VLDL-C, LDL-C, apoB100, apoC II, apoC III gradually increased (P < 0.05)with the prolonged feeding time of dietary cholesterol. High density lipoprotein cholesterol and its subfractions (HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C) showed a tendency to decrease, but without statistical significance (P > 0.05). ApoA1 was reduced with increased feeding time of dietary cholesterol (P < 0.05). The hepatic and biliary cholesterol increased 1-1.5 times as compared with the control group (t = 5.221 and 3.445, P < 0.05). The GCA gradually decreased beginning from the control group to the 4 wk group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Owing to the high cholesterol diet, the increased concentrations of plasma TC, TG, VLDL-C, LDL-C, hepatic TC and TG, apoB100, apoC II and apoC III possibly enhanced the secretion of biliary cholesterol into bile; the decreased plasma apoA1 level might reduce the secretion of antinucleating factor into bile. All those factors mentioned above probably contribute to the formation of cholesterol gallstones.

Two novel gastric cancer-associated genes identified by differential display

AIM: To clone novel gastric cancer-associated genes and investigate their roles in gastric cancer occurrence.

METHODS: A method called differential display was used which allows the identification of differentially expressed genes by using PAGE to display PCR-amplified cDNA fragments between gastric cancer cells and normal gastric mucosa cells. These fragments were cloned into plasmid vector pUC18. Homology analysis was made after sequencing these fragments.

RESULTS: Two novel genes were identified compared with sequences from GenBank. One was registered with the AD number AF 051783. In situ hybridization showed that these two novel genes expressed specifically in gastric cancer tissues.

CONCLUSION: The two novel genes obtained by differential display were confirmed to be gastric cancer-associated genes using in situ hybridization.

Modification of ricin and its hepatotoxicity and activity against hepatocellular cancer in mice

AIM: To observe the effects of ricin (RT) with and without chemicalmodification on both hepatotoxicity of mice and activity against hepatocellular cancer (HCC), and evaluate the possibility to improve RT anticancer activity via chemical modification.

METHODS: RT was modified with N-succinimidyl3 (2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP), a heterobifunctional cross-linker, and SPDP derivative of RT (PDP-R) was obtained. The serum glutathione-s-transferase (SGST) activity, as an index of liver damage, was determined in mice intoxicated with RT and PDP-R, at various doses and time.The tissue damage of HCC in the nude mice ip injected with PDP-R was compared with that with RT at the same dose by immunohistochemical method, the relative content of both RT and PDP-R in the HCC tissues was measured by computerized image-analysis.

RESULTS: The SGST activities increased with doses or/and time intoxicated with both RT and PDP-R, and the increase in the value of RT group was more significant than that in the PDP-R group; the SGST activity of RT group was 2.8-fold (P < 0.01) of PDP-R group at a dose of 12.5 μg/kg for 42 h, showing the much lower toxicity of R-PDP than that of RT. Under an optical microscope, hemolysis and necrosis of massive cells in the HCC tissues of PDP-R group were observed and the ratio of necrosis mounted to 90.5% while the corresponding value of RT group only to 62.5%. With computerized image-analysis, the average relative content of RT and PDP-R in the HCC tissues, represented as greyness, was 140.06 ± 3.43 and 169.10 ± 2.74, respectively. There was significant difference between the two (P < 0.05), indicating the higher content of PDP-R in the HCC tissue than that of RT.

CONCLUSION: The hepatotoxicity of PDP-R to mice may be reduced by chemical modification with SPDP, but both the affinity of PDP-R to the HCC tissues and ability to kill it may be stronger than that of RT. So this might be a valuable attempt to improve the anticancer activity of RT.

Effect of cytokines on liver necrosis

AIM: To investigate the effect of cytokines on the liver necrosis.

METHODS: rIL (interleukin)-1, rIL-6, rIFN (interferon)γ, rTNF (tumor necrosis factor)α with or without D-galactosamine (D-GAL) were injected into the abdominal cavity of mice separately. ALT, TBIL (total bilirubin) and histological changes were observed.

RESULTS: There was no effect on hepatocyte of normal mice after injection of rIL-1, rIL-6, rIFN alone or together. The serum total bilirubin (TBIL) and liver necrosis of mice increased after rTNFα, rIL-6 or rIFNγ were used separately with D-GAL. The TBIL level (μmol/L)was 46.19 ± 10.62, 44.55 ± 12.9 and 41.94 ± 14.9, higher than that caused by D-GAL alone (TBIL, 26.67 μmol/L ± 11.14 μmol/L). The serum TBIL of mice and the degree of liver necrosis increased after injection of IL-1, IL-6 with D-GAL and rTNFα.

CONCLUSION: Cytokines, like IL-1, IL-6, IFNγ and TNFα joined in the process of hepatocyte necrosis. They can enhance the degree of liver necrosis induced by D-GAL.

Effect of endotoxin on fibronectin synthesis of rat primary cultured hepatocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of endotoxin on liver fibrosis and further define the role of hepatocytes in production of fibronectin in primary livercell culture by endotoxin.

METHODS: After isolation and seeding of hepatocytes, the obtained cells were added to various doses (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L) of LPS treated culture media. The cells were collected and counted at various periods (0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 h). The concentrations of fibronectin were tested by electrophoresis.

RESULTS: The fibronectin levels tended to increase with prolongation of culture time. There was a sharp increase after 72 h in 10 or 15 LPS treated group. The peak level of fibronectin was above 20 mg/L. However, cell proliferation was inhibited during the course. Cell number of untreated control group (4.6 ± 0.1 × 10⁶) was about three fold that of 20 LPS treated group (1.6 ± 0. 2 × 10⁶) at 120 h.

CONCLUSION: Hepatocytes have a potent ability to produce fibronectin stimulated by endotoxin, suggesting that hepatocytes might participate in the process of liver fibrosis.

Expression and kinetic changes of alkaline phosphatase and its isoenzymes in experimental rat hepatoma

AIM: To explore the expression and changes of hepatoma specific alkaline phospatase (ALP) in rats during canceration.

METHODS: The ALPs and isoenzymes of rat livers and sera were investigated in SD hepatomas induced with 0.05% 2-fluoenylacetamide (2-FAA).

RESULTS: By pathological examination and biochemical analysis. ALPs were overexpressed in rat livers during canceration and then were secreted into blood. Serum total ALP activities, liver ALP specific activities (U/g) including soluble and membrane-combined ALP activities of each group were all significantly higher (P < 0.01)than those of control group. The average ratios of soluble ALP to membrane-combined ALP were increased significantly after 6 weeks. ALP isoenzymes of rat sera and livers showed 5 bands on PAGE: ALP-I and ALP-II were specific for normal liver and rat hepatoma tissues, the ALP-II appeared in rat liver after 6 weeks and in sera after 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: ALP with carcino-embryonic protein was overexpressed in hepatoma tissues; the abnormal ALP-II of ALP isoenzymes in sera and liver of rats can be used as a tumor marker for early diagnosis of rat hepatoma.

Comparative studies on epithelial lesions at gastric cardia and pyloric antrum in subjects from a high incidence area for esophageal cancer in Henan, China

AIM: To investigate the pathogenesis of gastric cardia and the distal part of stomach cancer and to further characterize the histopathogenesis model for gastric cardia cancer from the high-risk population for esophageal cancer.

METHODS: Mass survey with endoscopic mucosa biopsy and histopathological examination were carried out on 226 subjects aged above 30 years. Three biopsies were collected one each from the middle part of the esophagus, the gastric cardia and the pyloric antrum. The biopsy tissue was fixed with 85% alcohol and paraffin-embedded.

RESULTS: The incidence of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia at gastric cardia epithelium was higher than that at the pyloric antrum from the subjects in the same area. And there were high incidences of both esophageal and gastric cardia cancer, but a low incidence of gastric cancer at the distal part of the stomach.

CONCLUSION: There might be different etiology and pathogenesis of gastric cardia and pyloric cancer at the distal part of the stomach.

Effects of Fuzheng Huayu 319 recipe on liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B

AIM: To investigate clinic effects of Fuzheng Huayu 319 recipe (319 recipe) on liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

METHODS: Ninety-five patients with chronic hepatitis B were divide into the treated (63 cases) and control (32 cases) group, and orally administrated with 0.5g 319 capsule or 0.5g Dahuang Zhachong pill tid for 3 months, respectively. The liver functions and serological fibrotic markers were observed before and after treatment, 12 cases in the treated group were examined with liver biopsy.

RESULTS: Three hundreds nineteen recipe could remarkably decreased serum ALT level and total bilirubin and significantly improve serum albumin and A/G ratio. Its effects were better than Dahuang Zhachong pill. Before treatment, patients¡äserum monamine oxidase activities, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, procollagen type III and laminin were all higher than those of health peoples. These levels decreased remarkably after treatment, and urine hydroxyproline level increased significantly (P<0.001-0.05). Compared with the control, the improvement in treated group was better than that in the control except TIMP-1. According to the scoring system for staging of chronic hepatitis, the fibrotic extents of 7 cases among 12 cases examined by liver biopsy decreased remarkably (1 case decreased by 3 scores, 5 by 2 scores, 1 by 1 score).

CONCLUSION: Fuzheng Huayu 319 recipe had good therapeutic effects on chronic hepatitis B, it could reverse the development of liver fibross to some extent. In general its effects were better than that of Dahuang Zhachong pill.

Phase tissue intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in nude mice human liver cancer metastasis model

AIM: To study the phase cancer tissue intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression of human cancer metastasis model in nude mice, and to analyze the relationship between ICAM-1 expression and the metastasis and recurrence of hepatocellular cancinoma (HCC).

METHODS: HCC tissues from liver cancer metastasis model in nude mice (LCI-D20) was orthotopically implanted, and ICAM-1 expression in HCC tissues at different growing time were detected by immunodot blot. Tumor size, intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis foci were observed by naked eyes and under light microscope.

RESULTS: ICAM-1 was positively correlated to the tumor growing time (r = 0.88, P < 0.01) and tumor size r = 0.5, P < 0.05). It was higher in metastatic HCC than in nonmetastatic HCC (8.24 ± 0.95 vs 3.03 ± 0.51, P < 0.01). ICAM-1 content in cancer tissues increased suddenly after metastasis occurred and then maintained in a high level. ICAM-1 was also higher in multimetastasis group than in monometastasis group (10.05 ± 1.17 vs 5.48 ± 0.49, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Tissue ICAM-1 could predict not only the metastasis of human liver cancer metastasis model in nude mice early and sensitively, but also the metastasis degree. So tissue ICAM-1 may be a potential index indicating the status of metastasis of HCC patients.

Radioimmunoimaging of colorectal cancer using 99mTc-labeled monoclonal antibody

AIM: To determine whether Hb3 and its fragment F(ab’)₂ have practical value in radioimmunoimaging of colorectal cancer.

METHODS: Intact Hb3 was purified by hydroxylapatite chromatography. The fragment F(ab’)₂ was prepared by cold digestion and purified as intact Hb3. Hb3 and its fragment F(ab’)₂ were labeled with 99mTc by direct labeling method using SnCl₂ as reducing agent. The radioactive doses ranged from 15 to 40 mCi. The imaging was accomplished by single photon emission computered tomograph (SPECT) with imaging time ranging from 2.5 to 48 h. In this study, 10 patients were selected. Among them, 7 were administered with intact Hb3, and 3 with F(ab’)₂ fragment. All the patients were diagnosed as having colorectal adenocarcinoma.

RESULTS: After purification, intact Hb3 and its fragment F(ab’)₂ were fit for radioimmunoimaging. The percentage of labeling of ^99mTc to Hb3 or F(ab’)₂ was 80.6%-91.5%. Among the 10 patients, 3 of 7 patients administered with intact Hb3 had positive scans, the other 4 had negative scans, and 2 of 3 patients administered with F(ab’)₂ had positive scans, the other 1 had negative scans.

CONCLUSION: The results showed that both intact Hb3 and its F(ab’)₂ have some practical value in radioimmunoimaging of colorectal cancer, and the effects of imaging with F(ab’)₂ was better than that with intact Hb₃.

Expression of alpha fetoprotein messenger RNA in BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells and effect of L-4-oxalysine on the expression

AIM: To investigate alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA expression in BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells and the effect of L-4-oxalysine (OXL) on the expression.

METHODS: Bel-7404 human hepatoma cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 media. Human AFP cDNA probe was labelled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP by the random primer labelling method. The expression of AFP mRNA in Bel-7404 cells was determined by an in situ hybridization technique with digoxigenin-labelled human AFP cDNA probe. The positive intensities of AFP mRNA in cells were analyzed by microspectrophotometer and expressed as absorbance at 470 nm. For the experiment with OXL, cells were incubated with various concentrations of the agent for 72 h.

RESULTS: Essentially all the hepatoma cells contained AFP mRNA in the cytoplasm, although in various amounts. The specificity of the hybridization reaction was confirmed by control experiments in which the use of Rnase-treated BEL-7404 cells, non-AFP producing cells (HL-60 human leukemia cells) or a nonspecific cDNA probe resulted in negative hybridization. When the cells were treated with OXL (25, 50 mg/L), the content of AFP mRNA in the cytoplasm was decreased with the inhibition percentages of 34.3% and 70.1%, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: AFP mRNA was expressed in BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells and OXL suppressed AFP mRNA expression in the cells.

HBx-DNA probe preparation and its application in study of hepatocarcinogenesis

AIM:To study the role of HBV especially HBx Open Reading Frame (ORF) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:HBV 3.2kb fragment was retrieved by digesting recombinant plasmid pBR(322)-2HBV with EcoR II, and HBx 0.59kb fragments by digesting HBV-DNA with BamH I and Bgl II. These fragments were labelled with digoxigenin to get HBV-DNA and HBx-DNA probes. HBV-DNA was detected in HCC by dot blot and Southern blot hybridization with HBV-DNA probe, so the positive specimens in which HBV-DNA were integrated were selected. HBx-DNA was subsequently detected in the selected specimens with HBx-DNA probe.RESULTS:HBV-DNA was detected in 75% HCC, among which integrated type, integrated + free type covered 63.6% and 36.4%. There was no free type. HBx-DNA was detected in 90.5% specimens of integrated type.CONCLUSION:Hepatocarcinogenesis was highly related to HBV-DNA integration, and HBV-DNA mainly integrated into chromosome with incomplete virus DNA fragments among which HBx fragment was the predominant one.

Effects of Dangshen on isolated gastric muscle strips in rats

AIM:To study the effects of Dangshen dried root of Codonopsis Pilosula (Franch) Nannf on contractile activity of isolated gastric muscle strips in rats and its possible mechanism involved.METHODS:Each isolated gastric muscle strip was put in a tissue chamber containing 5ml Krebs solution, constantly warmed by water jacket at 37?mgr; and supplied with a mixed gas of 95% O(2) and 5% CO(2). After incubating for 1h with 1g tension, Dangshen of varied concentration was added cumulatively in the tissue chamber at intervals of 2 minutes. The isometrical response was measured on ink-writing recorders.RESULTS:Dangshen dose dependence increased the resting tension of longitudinal muscle (LM) of fundus (r =0.96, P < 0.01), the mean contractile amplitude of circular muscle (CM) of the stomach body (r =0.87, P < 0.05) and CM of antrum (r =0.98, P < 0.01), and the motility index CM of pylorus(r =0.87, P < 0.05). Atropine (5 10( 8)mol/L) or Hexamethonium (10( 5)mol/L) or Indomethacin (5 10( 7)mol/L) was given 2 minutes before the administration of Dangshen, it did not abolish its dose related manner. Atropine apparently reduced the increasing action of 10% and 30% Dangshen on the resting tesion of LM of fundus (P < 0.05), 30%, 100% and 200% Dangshen on bodied strips (P < 0.05), 100% and 200% Dangshen on antral strips (P < 0.05).Hexamethonium reduced the increasing action of 10% and 30% Dangshen on the resting tesion of LM of fundus (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05), 30%, 100% and 200% Dangshen on bodied strips (P < 0.05), and 100% and 200% Dangshen on pyloric strips (P < 0.05). Indomethacin inhibited the effect of 10% Dangshen on the resting tesion of LM of fundus (P < 0.05), but did not affect the exciting action of Dangshen on strips of body, antrum and pylorus.CONCLUSION:The results showed that Dangshen possessed exciting action on the isolated gastric smooth muscle strips of the rat.The exciting action of Dangshen was partially mediated via cholinergic M and N receptors.

In vitro production of TNFα, IL-6 and sIL-2R in Chinese patients with ulcerative colitis

AIM: To determine the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2r) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 25 Chinese patients with ulcerative colitis and 20 healthy controls.

METHODS: PBMC were isolated by density gradient centrifugation of heparinized blood and cultures for 24 or 48 h by stimulation with LPS or PHA. TNFα and sIL-2r were measured by ELISA method and IL-6 measured by biossay.

RESULTS: TNFα production stimulated by LPS and sIL-2r production by PHA in ulcerative colitis were significantly lower than in healthy controls (TNFα 509 (46-7244) ng/L vs 1995 (117-18950) ng/L, P < 0.05; sIL-2r 320 U/mL ± 165 U/mL vs 451 U/mL ± 247 U/mL, P < 0.05). Spontaneous TNFα and sIL-2r production were not significantly different between ulcerative colitis and controls (TNFα 304 (46-7044) ng/L vs 215 (46-4009) ng/L, P > 0.05; sIL-2r 264 U/mL ± 115 U/mL vs 236 U/mL ± 139 U/mL, P > 0.05). IL-6 production by spontaneous release from PBMC in ulcerative colitis group was 109 U/mL ± 94 U/mL vs 44 U/mL ± 39 U/mL for those in healthy controls, P < 0.01. IL-6 stimulated by LPS in ulcerative colitis group was (261 U/mL ± 80 U/mL) higher than in healthy controls (102 U/mL ± 54 U/mL, P < 0.01). No correlation of TNFα, IL-6, sIL-2r production was found to disease activity, disease location and medication.

CONCLUSION: Cytokine production from PBMC was also disturbed in Chinese patients with ulcerative colitis.

Peripheral mechanism of inhibitory effect of centrally administrated histamine on gastric acid secretion

AIM: To study the peripheral mechanism of the inhibitory effect of intra-third ventricular administration (icv) of histamine (HA) on gastric acid secretion in rats.

METHODS: Gastric acid was continuously washed with 37 °C saline by a perfusion pump in male adrenalectomized SD rats. Drugs were injected intravenously (iv) by a syringe pump and their effect on pentagastrin-induced (10 μg·kg·h, iv) gastric acid secretion was observed.

RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of HA (1 μg, icv) on gastric acid secretion was blocked by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, and pretreatment with atropine (0.005 mg·kg·h, iv). Pretreatment with somatostatin antagonist, cyclo-[7-aminoheptanoyl-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr(Bzl)], (2 μg-4 μg·kg·100 min, iv) could also block the inhibitory effect of HA on gastric acid secretion in a dose dependent manner.

CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of centrally administrated HA on gastric acid secretion may be mediated by vagi, acetylcholine M receptor and somatostatin.

Study of heteroserum-induced rat liver fibrosis model and its mechanism

AIM: To investigate the morphological changes in the process of heteroserum induced rat liver fibrosis and the mechanism of fibrogenesis of this model.

METHODS: A model of heteroserum-induced rat liver fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of porcine serum. In addition to the observation of the morphological changes of this model, the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells were measured quantitatively and the deposition of IgG and complement C₃ was detected by immunofluorescence.

RESULTS: The rat liver fibrosis was induced successfully at the end of the 8th week after the injection of heteroserum. Besides the increase of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) during the process of liver fibrosis, proliferation and activation of primary mesenchyma cells (PMCs) were also found. In the early stage, the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells was significantly increased and the deposition of IgG and complement C₃ was positive in the portal tracts and septa, while gradually reduced after the injection was stopped.

CONCLUSIONS: This model is suitable for the research on liver fibrogenesis; the pathogenesis of this model may be related with the allergen-induced late phasereaction (LPR) caused by the injection of heteroserum, and the HSCs and the PMCs are important sources of ECM-producing cells.

Relationship between expression of laminin and pathological features in human colorectal carcinoma

AIM: To study the expression and significance of laminin in human colorectal carcinoma.

METHODS: Using the monoclonal antibody to laminin and streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method, the expression of laminin in 63 cases of human colorectal carcinoma tissues was determined.

RESULTS: In normal marge intestinal mucosa adjacent to carcinoma, laminin was largely restricted to basement membrane in continuous linear pattern. In contrast, human colorectal carcinomas exhibited a progressive loss of an intact basement membrane that was correlated with decreasing differentiation degree. Well and moderately differentiated tumors exhibited a thin basement membrane with intermittent disruptions, and poorly differentiated tumors exhibited no areas of intact basement membrane. An association was found between lack of basement membrane laminin immunohistochemical staining in colorectal carcinoma and poorly differentiated tumor (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining for laminin could provide a very useful indexfor the determination of the differentiation degree of colorectal carcinoma.

A clinical evaluation of serum concentrations of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in patients with gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the correlation between the serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and the clinicopathologic features and to evaluate the possible prognostic significance of sICAM-1 concentration in gastric cancer.

METHODS: Thirty-four patients with gastric cancer were prospectively included and evaluated. Venous blood samples were collected before the surgery. Sera were obtained by centrifugation, and store at -30 °C until assay. The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers. Serum concentrations of ICAM-1 were measured with the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technic. Differences between the two groups were analyzed by Student’s t test. x^- + 2s of normal control sICAM-1 was taken as upper limit to calculate the positive rates.

RESULTS: The mean value of serum ICAM-1 in patients with gastric cancer was 367.7 μg/L ± 104.7 μg/L and that of control group was 236.9 μg/L ± 74.3 μg/L, and the difference was significant (P < 0.001). The patients with tumor size of ≥ 5 cm had significantly higher serum concentrations of sICAM-1 than those with smaller ones (406.7 μg/L ± 90.2 μg/L vs 319.9 μg/L ± 105.3 μg/L, P < 0.01). Compared with stages I-II gastric cancer patients, patients with more advanced clinical stage (III-IV) had higher levels of sICAM-1 (397.1 μg/L ± 102.4 μg/L vs 306.0 μg/L ± 82.3 μg/L, P < 0.05). Difference was significant statistically in sICAM-1 levels between patients with positive lymph node status and those without lymph node involvement (403.6 μg/L ± 99.7 μg/L vs 302.7 μg/L ± 81.4 μg/L, P < 0.01). No relation was observed between the level of sICAM-1 and grade of histological differentiation in the patients with gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION: Serum sICAM-1 concentration may be a valuable parameter for predicting the prognosis and degree of the gastric cancer.

Effects of octreotide on gallbladder pressure and myoelectric activity of Oddi sphincter in rabbits

AIM: To observe the effect of octreotide (OT) and somatostatin (SS) on gallbladder pressure and myoelectric activity of SO in rabbits.

METHODS: Male rabbits fasted for 15 h-18 h and anesthetized with urethane. The mean gallbladder pressure (GP) and myoelectric activity of SO were simutaneously measured with a frog bladder connected to a transducer and a pair of copper electrodes.

RESULTS: After injection of OT (10 μg/kg, iv), the GP decreased in 2 min and reached the lowest value in about 60 min (P < 0.01, n = 19), and completely or partially returned to the normal level in 120 min. The frequency of myoelectric activty of SO was reduced, even disappeared in 2 min (P < 0.01, n = 19) and returned to normal in about 20 min. Injection of SS (10 μg/kg, iv) also decreased GP and myoelectric activity of SO (P < 0.01, n = 7); Before and after injection of OT or SS, injection of CCK-8 (100 ng or 200 ng) caused similar increase in myoelectric activity of SO and GP (P > 0.05). Before and after injection of OT, there were no significant differences in increases of myoelectric activity of SO and GP caused by electric stimulation of dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: OT and SS decreased GP and myoelectric activity of SO, demonstrating that effects of OT were similar to those of SS. Intravenous injection of OT did not affect the increase of myoelectric activity of SO and GP caused by CCK-8 or electric stimulation of dorsal motor nucleus of vagus.

Therapeutic effect of Zijin capsule in liver fibrosis in rats

AIM: To confirm the therapeutic effect of Zijin capsule on liver fibrosis in rat model.

METHODS: Model group: Bovine serum albumin (BSA) Freund’s incomplete adjuvant 0.5 mL was injected subdermally at d1 d15 d22 d29 and d36 for primary sensitization. Seven days after the fifth injection, BSA antibody in the serum was detected by double agar diffusion method. Normal saline of 0.4 mL was injected through cauda vein to BSA antibody-positive rat twice a week for fifteen times. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction group and Zijin capsule group: In the attack injection period, Chinese medicinal decoction or Zijin capsule was given ig, the others were the same as in the model group. NS was used in the control group. The collagen content of rat liver was determined by Bergman’s method and expressed as x^-±s. The liver pathological changes were divided into four grades and expressed as the avarage of the total rank sum.

RESULTS: The collagen content (mg/g) of the liver in the control group (7.2 ± 1.9) was significantly lower than that in the other groups; it was higher in the model group (31.7 ± 16.6) than that in the two therapeutic groups; and lower in Zijin capsule group (9.7 ± 2.8) than that in the TCM decoction group (11.5 ± 5.3). The pathological changes were more aggravated in the model group (37.4) than those in the two therapeutic groups; and more severe in the TCM decoction group (30.2) than in the Zijin capsule group (22.9).

CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of Zijin capsule on the model was confirmed.